SEOUL, South Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised his second live-fire artillery exercise in a week, state media said on Tuesday, as the country continues to expand its military capabilities. The report by Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency came a day after South Korea’s military detected the launches of three short-range projectiles off the North’s eastern coast. KCNA said Kim showed great satisfaction as his front-line artillery units demonstrated “excellent marksmanship” during the exercise that tested their abilities to execute quick counterattacks. Pyongyang’s official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos of rockets blasting out of multiple-rocket launchers and striking what appeared to be an island target. Kim had entered the new year vowing to bolster his nuclear deterrent in face of “gangster-like” US sanctions and pressure.

Source: Manila Times March 10, 2020 02:37 UTC